Mitt Romney, the virtual Republican nominee for US presidential election, congratulated Venezuelans for their Independence Day

The virtual Republican nominee for November presidential election in the United States, Mitt Romney, on Thursday congratulated Venezuelans for their Independence Day and regretted that their president, Hugo Chávez, fails to honor the spirit of liberty that prevailed when Venezuela was founded 201 years ago.

"Unfortunately, the leader of Venezuela has failed to honor the spirit of freedom with which Venezuela was established. Hugo Chávez is promoting ideas in Venezuela and other Latin American countries that run counter to freedom, prevent prosperity and expand tyranny," said the Republican leader in a statement quoted by news agency EFE.

Romney, who surely will be appointed at the end of August as the official Republican candidate for president, according to EFE, on Thursday sent his best wishes to Venezuelans on the commemoration of their independence. He recalled that Venezuelans "have made huge contributions to the culture of the United States."

One day after the United States also commemorated its Independence Day, Romney reaffirmed the Venezuelan people "the pledge to defend democracy and remain united with them and others who defend the rights of their fellow countrymen."

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also congratulated Venezuela and reminded the importance of the free presidential election that will be held this year in the South American country. She described the vote as the best way to pay tribute to Venezuela's founding fathers.

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Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Brazil on March 13 to demand the ouster of embattled President Dilma Rousseff, carrying banners expressing anger at bribery scandals and economic woes. A banner read "We don't want a new Venezuela in Brazil."